Kettlebell Overhead Squat

The Kettlebell Overhead Squat requires good squat mobility as well as shoulder stability.

Whenever a weight is held overhead it makes the exercise more difficult for a number of reasons:

1. The heart has to work harder to pump blood to the top hand
2. The Upper back or Thoracic mobility is challenged as this should hinge in order to open up the chest and overhead movement
3. The shoulder muscles are placed under greater demands as they have to hold the kettlebell still while the body moves underneath it
4. The core muscles are challenged even harder because the lever arm is much longer and the core muscles connect the upper body to the lower body

You will probably find that during the overhead squat, if you can manage it, your body will rotate slightly to open up the back and enable the weight to be held directly overhead.

If you find the the weight starts to fall forwards during the deep part of the squat then your upper back mobility is probably limited or your squat pattern needs more work.